Oak's recipe includes Herb
Newsday's Katie Strang was at midtown's Cafe Oakley, where the Oak Man himself was screening a pilot for a cooking show.
Here's the story she posted:
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By Katie Strang
He was known for his prowess in the paint, but former New York Knick Charles Oakley demonstrated he has some serious skills in the kitchen as well.
During an exclusive screening of his own cooking show named “Café Oakley” in Midtown Manhattan, Oakley served up some of his favorite dishes including fried chicken, smothered steak, and macaroni salad. After the screening of the show, which he plans to shop around at different networks, Oakley also served up some insight into his former team, the New York Knicks, who recently fired head coach Isiah Thomas after finishing a dreadful 23-59.
“It’s a bad situation for the city,” Oakley said of the Knicks’ effort this season, at least some of which he attributed to Thomas’ coaching style. “What he’s done in the past five years for the team has been garbage.”
Oakley said he saw the Knicks play at various points throughout the season, and noticed they did not look well-coached to play defense. Just because Thomas was a great player, Oakley said, doesn’t make him a good coach.
“He should’ve been fired a couple years ago. He wasn’t fit for the organization,” Oakley said.
Oakley believes Thomas’ successor should be Herb Williams, who is a longtime Knicks assistant and former player.
“They’ve should’ve given Herb the job [before],” Oakley said.
While television analyst Mark Jackson seemed to be the initial frontrunner with new team president Donnie Walsh, Williams has been short-listed as well, and Oakley believes his loyalty to the organization should be rewarded.
“He would bring just as much as Lenny Wilkens brought here. More than Isiah, no question. He needs a chance, and they should give him a chance, because every time they’ve asked him to do something, he’s done it over the years,” Oakley said.
Oakley also said he has spoken to former teammate Patrick Ewing about the current Knicks coaching vacancy, and that Ewing said he would be interested if Williams was coach. Oakley said he himself would be interested in coaching in some capacity if the right person was hired as head coach. At this point, Oakley said, the Knicks don’t have much to lose in taking a chance on Williams and investing in one of their own.
“They’ve fired everybody else,” Oakley said. “They may as well give him a chance.”
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In case you didn't catch it on Newsday.com's main page yesterday, veteran columnist John Jeansonne wrote a solid, in-depth piece about Jeff Van Gundy. As most Jeansonne pieces, this one's a must read.
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Had a lively debate about the coaching search last night with fellow Fixer Brandon Tierney on his ESPN Radio show (7-10 p.m. weekdays). Brandon says if he had to choose between Mark Jackson and Patrick Ewing, he'd choose Jackson "seven days a week." I challenged him as to why he was so convinced about a guy who has never done the job before, yet has zero confidence in Ewing, who has, at least, spent four seasons on an NBA bench as an assistant coach. BT and I went at it and it was fun. Almost felt like I was auditioning for The WheelHouse, which is his show (along with Brian Custer and Scott Ferrall) on SNY at 6:30 p.m.
Yeah, I know. I have a face for newsprint. But if Isola can keep getting his mug on camera...
Yo, BT has some life, though. Single dude, living in Manhattan, radio gig, TV show. And he plugs The Fix whenever he can on his show, so we gotta break off a little for him here.
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Comments (33)
so that was Tierney calling Q a scrub on your blog yesterday. can't say I disagree.
I saw him get into a discussion on FSN about the merits of keeping Zach Randolph over Eddy Curry. You can't just dump them both so you have to pick a side. After this season, I say dump Curry for having no heart, no motor, no interest in stepping on the court and playing the game of basketball. At this rate, there is a 50-50 chance he'll regress into a younger version of Jerome James.
Mark Jackson should be the guy. Isiah does not have a say on who's going to coach the Knicks next season. After draft night Isiah will resign his position. Being a complete control freak that he is - Isiah is screaming in side right now. Herb can stay on as an Assistant but I don't think If you want change that the way to do it. I think Starks could be an assistant too and what about Oakley for an assistant coaching job?
Eddie Curry is the reason they made the "One Year of College Rule".
He will never be a great Basketball player because he has no desire to put forth the effort both athletically and emotionally. If they trade him and get any value I would consider Donnie Walsh for executive of the year.
But there are three reasons why Eddy won't be traded: (1) he's underperformed terribly; (2) his contract is pretty big; (3) his contract is also uninsured, because of his heart condition.
That's why I think the Knicks should give him two seasons to get his tail in gear and prove he can play on both ends of the floor. Otherwise they'll just release him in 2010.
Its indicative of how badly botched management has been when we are stuck debating who is less of a horrible fit - Curry or Zach. I agree with all the knocks on Curry - one-dimensional, soft, lazy, etc., but Zach is like the anti-KG - his mere arrival contributed mightily to a double-digit drop in the win column. I'm looking forward to the season where neither of them are in the Knick's frontcourt. I agree with Alan in a previous post that since you can't get rid of everyone, there are some players who are undesirable who will be around next season. If either Zach or Curry has to be back, I'd move the one I could get the better deal for in terms of short-term contracts, a pick or a young player. Neither has a future on a contending team - its just who can be shipped out first.
For the coach - I like Thibodeau, but I can live with Jackson. I've argued before that this isn't a bad time to give a rookie coach a shot. The whole "from NY" thing isn't a big deal to me, but Jackson fit he profile of the kind of player who tends to make a decent coach. Sign him for two years and see if he works out. It should be a period of turnover anyhow.
Hey Alan,
When would you guess that an NBA team would look to either the WNBA or the International/Olympic teams for coaches? I ask because, like with Jackie Robinson, when there's non-logical prejudice working against a choice, the first person that goes with logic usually gets the cream of the crop. OTOH, if you move too quickly, you get someone who can't handle the task. Though, it's worth noting that lots of people in the know seem to think the top Olympic teams are better coached than our guys. Better coached, hmmm, I wonder how that happens?
For Fixers that read other blogs, sorry for the cross post but I'd love if at least one reporter asked D Walsh about non-traditional candidates.
I know someone's gonna point out how long the international coaches get to work with their teams but that's the point. Give them that long with an NBA team and see how they do. After all, our dream team ain't doing so good and it's because the international teams do a better job of playing as a team.
Curry is untradeable? Since when? Miami, Seatle, Bucks, Washington, Toronto, Atlanta, Dallas, Golden State, and Mninesota I'm sure would love to have him.
He can't play in East though because it is too much of a half court game which really exposes Eddy's weaknesses. Put him in a more fast paced setting and a coach who will motivate him to be in shape and I don't think he will be a complete bust. The Knicks and our fans demand toughness which he does not have. He willl be fine in Dallas or Atlanta or even Toronto.
Have I convinced you? Good now lets convince them and get a #1 pick for this bum . . .
Hockey Scribe,
Still waiting for your answers on:
How Crawford's a one-trick pony who just needs to play better defense to become, what, competent? A one-trick pony with no defense, no board work, no dishing, no ability to move without the rock, no desire to make his teammates better, and no leadership.
Why Little Man Nate was a superstar in the Girls Junior Varsity Summer League and a water boy in the League?
Why Eddy Curry has never worked, will never work, has never cleaned the glass, and will never clean the glass?
That Stephon Marbury's been a Loser Since Lincoln and Always A Loser will Marbury be?
The ETA for Zach's first trip to a Gary strip club during the 2008-09 season?
The basic math and common sense behind the fact that Rose, while a fair vet, won't average 16-and-10 at 48 just because he averages 2.7-and-1.7 at eight?
You can run to Home Depot, hockey writer, but you can't hide.
Hope you'll explain those illogical arguments of yours. Before, of course, Sam Zell and/or Uncle Rupert call for a little chat.
Anon. idiot scribe:
before calling anyone out for not responding to your pleas for help, you might consider your own unwillingness to answer simple questions
Still waiting for your answers on:
Why you are incapable of formulating an new thought or question eve after hanging around various blogs for years?
Why do you insist on trying to engage with people who neither like you or your virtual company?
How the above is not a de facto admission of a sociopathic disorder?
Why you insist on using truly asinine names like "Little Man Nate" and the "Girls Junior Varsity Summer League," which were neither creative nor funny the first time, and crossed over into inanity long ago?
Why you seem incapable of shelving your knee-jerk list of repetitive gripes and actually responding to a thread?
Hope you'll explain your disturbed and disturbing inability to interact, even through the socially undemanding medium of blog comments.
@ Pete - the simple answer is: "DFTT".
Don't Feed The Troll...let him rot & crawl back under the bridge.
Word on the street is that JVG declined to interview & Thibs applied for the job.
Pete - why are you giving him burn?
Speaking of WNBA coaches, and this hurts me to admit, but, Bill Lambier has done a very good job with the Sparks.
Oh, god, cleans my thoughts of even the suggestion of another Piston from the Bad Boys era.
Please, please, please, forgive me.
@ Alan - Oops, didn't read your new article before my last post! Good to see you are up latest...as usual.
Old School
What? What I thought we were in the trust tree in the nest, were we not?
Why you are incapable of formulating an new thought or question eve after hanging around various blogs for years?
CAUSE the Knicks were lousy this season. Lousy last season. Lousy the season before. All under Zeke's watch. Stephon Marbury's always been a loser. Eddy Curry's always been lazy. Jamal Crawford's always been a mindless gunner - not a one-dimensional player with just one thing (sic) wrong with his game. Nate Robinson's always been a Girls' Summer League All-Star and a League Chump. Fat Zach's always been interested in Fat Zach and India strip clubs. Change the performance of the club and its players and I'll change the message. Or does that make too much sense to you, son?
Why do you insist on trying to engage with people who neither like you or your virtual company?
CAUSE I'm committing to help those less fortunate in society and no one's less fortunate than the New York Family Court Champion, Peaceman. Besides, such pack mentality gave us the Crips, Bloods, Conservatives, Neoconservatives, and Paris Hilton.
How the above is not a de facto admission of a sociopathic disorder?
CAUSE expecting honest, logical evaluation of failures as players and a pathetic franchise is called responsible. Accepting false sunshine from a scribe who belongs in the Paint Department at Home Depot and is so terrified of losing his precious pseudo-access would be defined as insane. If I want PR, I'll go to Madison Avenue. When I want basketball, I come to Newsday. When Newsday gives me PR, I slap Newsday's hockey writer upside the head. I'm not going to accept mediocrity and pathetic PR masked as journalism. Why do you eat this crap with both hands?
Why you insist on using truly asinine names like "Little Man Nate" and the "Girls Junior Varsity Summer League," which were neither creative nor funny the first time, and crossed over into inanity long ago?
CAUSE both names are accurate. As are Lazy Eddy. Fat Zach. The Coney Island Cupcake. And, of course, The Possette Nation.
Why you seem incapable of shelving your knee-jerk list of repetitive gripes and actually responding to a thread?
CAUSE I"ve responded for the past three years. Haven't been wrong yet. Why do you accept the blabbering of Peaceman, who picked the Knicks for 50 wins and a fourth seed in the playoffs this season? Why do you accept the PR of a Home Depot maniac who picked the Knicks to go 40-42 and nab the eighth seed?
Are you so afraid that the Hockey Writer and Peaceman will pick up their marbles and go home? Can't you think for yourself? Have the concepts of INDEPENDENT THOUGHT and no patience for mediocrity/PR BS ever crossed your mind?
You won't answer honestly. Probably just call me nuts. Or claim that I refused to answer your questions.
But the truth sure stings. Back to the street corner you go. Give my best to the rest of the Possette Nation.
See, Pete, that's what you get when you feed the troll. Trollishness. To paraphrase a popular coach in NY parts ; ) : he is what he is.
Old School Oakley, godot - point taken.
Mike - ditto.
It is pretty weird though.
Yeah, pretty weird. When he couldn't muster even one sentence of sympathy for Stephon after his father died, I realized it wasn't worth it to address him. Of all the times to attack a person. There's something to be said for consistency, I suppose.
As far as the coaches go, if the choice comes down to Jackson vs. Tibs, that's a pretty interesting contrast. Rookie, former player, vs. so-far career assistant, with a very high x's-and-o's rep.
Seems to me the biggest rap against Herb is that he has no one particular strength as a coach: not a forceful personality, not a great gameplanner, not a master motivator. The strongest endorsement I've heard for his is that he has the "backbone" for the job. Hardly ringing...though fitting for the chaos in MSG for the past several years.
Herb nevr called one good play out of the huddle all the games I watched him coach. A nice guy, but not head coach.
Why we need Tom Thibodeau:
In 14 NBA seasons, Thibodeau has helped his team finish in the NBA's Top Ten in team defense 11 times. He has also coached in 80 NBA playoff games in his career, including New York's appearance in the 1999 NBA Finals.
Yeah, Tom's in danger of becoming a defensive version of Tex Winter, who developed a terrific offense (the triangle), only to never get serious consideration as a head coach. To Doc's credit, he's not trying to stand in his way.
Don't even respond, Pete. (DFTT) He's probably some outcast 17 year old with too much acne to get a date for the prom. At least, he writes and thinks that way
It just reminds you this really is a city filled with sad, lonely people. When you throw a lot of anger into to mix, it's understandable he should be such an obviously unhappy person If everyone I wanted to communicate with hated me, I'd be angry too. That doesn't excuse Anon's dribble, of course.
Feel sorry for him. I do . . . what's most ludicrous is that he continues to write like he's the only one who realizes the Knicks are a joke.
Sad, sad, sad. Lonely, lonely, lonely. He's a country & western song waiting to be written.
And BTW – I disagree, Pete. Walsh is definitely keeping Isiah around for advice. When he wants advice on how to build a team of over-paid, one-dimensional players, devoid of assets or genuine prospects, who can’t win more than 23 games a season . . . he knows just who to ask.
I’m also glad this nonsense has been cleared up about Isiah not being allowed to talk to the players. Who would make such a rule? Think about it: He barely talked to them when he was their coach? Why do we assume he’d have anything to say now? He barely held practices.
So I’m glad it’s been cleared up that he’s allowed to talk to them. But I’m THRILLED by the sure knowledge that he doesn’t have a thing to say to them. Isiah’s hand-picked team. What a joke. Oak is right, of course. It would have been better if he’d been fired years ago. Better for the Knicks, certainly. But also a LOT better for Isiah. If he’d been fired a few years ago, there still might have been a chance he could get another job in the NBA. Now . . . not a prayer.
Sorry for so many posts, but I’ve be distracted. One more point – on the MVP race. Everyone is assuming it’s a two-man race. I don’t buy it. Has everyone forgotten the cat in Cleveland?
If I were starting a team today and could pick any player in the NBA – given everything. Age. Talent. Size. Everything. I wouldn’t hesitate. The first player I’d choose is LeBron. I love Paul and I love Kobe. But the combination of youth, size, talent and strength? You can get a decent point guard to feed him the ball. C’mon. This guy is the real deal. There’s nobody in the league more talented than he is. And you can’t tell me that Cleveland would even be in the playoffs without him. Last year they went to the finals, and wouldn’t have made the playoffs without him. LeBron is the league’s MVP.
Often read this blog but first time posting here. Just had to add as I love the comments by Oak and the prospect of having some of the Knicks who helped make the team great on the coaching staff makes me a bit giddy. Not a huge fan of herb williams as a coach but if hiring him makes Ewing, Oakley and anyone else from the old teams come join the coaching staff I'm all for it. I know M. Jackson is the hometown guy but isn't anyone else disturbed when you remember the great Knicks/Pacers playoff battles when Jackson himself was their PG? To me I would rather have seen JVG back but since he already said no give Herb a shot to get the other guys here.
Also, as far as who should stay and go... well I have a few that HAVE to stay and a few who HAVE to go. The rest of them I couldn't care either way and I'm not even including Jerome James.
HAVE to stay: Crawford as I like his potential and think he can still improve his game and will do so under better coaching.
ZRandolph as I like how he is a solid option in the post and actually rebounds and has post moves unlike Curry.
DLee for obvious reasons. I also like Nate as a solid guy off the bench. Also keep the rookie SF to give him a shot to develop.
MUST GO: Marbury and Curry. These two have bogged this team down for years now. Marbury no longer even plays at a high enough level to even be considered a superstar and maybe he got by on skills when he was younger despite lack of leadership but not anymore. He has been a flat out cancer.
Curry is the ultimate anti Ewing. Hes huge and supposedly has good hands yet has NO post moves, NO work ethic, NO basketball IQ or instinct, plays NO defense, and has NO desire to get any better. Just say NO to Curry ever being seen in a Knicks uniform again. He isn't good enough to wear a Knicks uni.
Great point, Trane: Isiah hardly talked to his players when he was the coach. I think the worry was--akin to the worry about having him in the organization at all--that he'd try to foster discontent and divide the locker room. But he lost his main man, Stephon, a long time ago, and Steph had already pretty much lost the team anyway. Unlike Indiana, where Jermaine O'Neal still adores Thomas, and he has enough respect in the locker room to cause trouble (or just outright tank the season, like he did this year).
Of course, there you have it...Isiah's already caused a worst-case-scenario train wreck...what could he possibly do, in any way, to make next year worse? (Hmm...better not to ask that, probably.)
* Bird was an exception as far as achieving some amount of coaching success (w/o having any coaching experience). In addition, Bird readily admitted that R. Carlisle and DHarter provided great help, input, and suggestions. Both did a lot of the real coaching per Bird.
* Isiah as rookie coach with Pacers. Not worth keyboarding time;
* Other than maybe Bill Russell, no rookie coach accomplished any real success.
* Jax need some 'on the job' training being an Assistant first. Placing him as a Head Coach without any experience is highly questionable.
* Plus Jax is too freaking arrogant that his supreme confidence will probably prevent him from listening to his coaching staff or players if he is doing something wrong or if they have suggestions.
* Based on his credentials, Tom Thibodeau deserves & has earned a shot to be a Head Coach. If not NYK then somewhere else. I hope that Walsh would strongly consider TT.
* Bird was an exception as far as achieving some amount of coaching success (w/o having any coaching experience). In addition, Bird readily admitted that R. Carlisle and DHarter provided great help, input, and suggestions. Both did a lot of the real coaching per Bird.
* Isiah as rookie coach with Pacers.... Not worth keyboarding time;
* Other than maybe Bill Russell, no rookie coach accomplished any real success.
* Jax need some 'on the job' training being an Assistant first. Placing him as a Head Coach without any experience is highly questionable.
* Plus Jax is too freaking arrogant that his supreme confidence will probably prevent him from listening to his coaching staff or players if he is doing something wrong or if they have suggestions.
* Based on his credentials, Tom Thibodeau deserves & has earned a shot to be a Head Coach. If not NYK then somewhere else. I hope that Walsh would strongly consider TT.
I saw it mentioned somewhere this AM (I think it was the Post) that Walsh is considering Sam Mitchell. Now I don't know about you cats, but I think that's the move!! I truly believe he's the one that'll "right this ship". He's a defensive-minded enough coach to instil those principles, and respected enough to ensure they're carried out.
I just love how he handled VC's sorry azz in Toronto....there's no doubt he'll do the same with our "fly boys".
IMHO the jury is still out on Jackson. Not so much on his lack of experience, but his arrogance might rub some the wrong way (as it did me when he played), as KUNAT pointed out. Besides, the last thing we need is another "NY kid comes home to save the franchise" thingy....we merely need the best coach available for THIS team, and his name is Sam.
And one other thing on Sam Mitchell...he and Marbs were teamates in Minny, and he has a HUGE amount of respect for Sam, where he took him under his wing and provided much-need mentoring for the young fella. Mitchell represents Marbs' best times in the league.
If we can find a coach that'll garner the leaders' respect (and yes, Marbs is STILL the leader of this team, unfortunately) everyone else will fall in line.
it's a "win-win" situation with Sam. He will be available, because his team will be bounced in the first round. Walsh knows that, that's the reason for the stalling.
Herb - great guy, should get a chance to lead a team, but the water is forever fouled for him here. If there are any guys left from Zeke's horror show, and there probably will be plenty, how can he reverse course having been, rightly or wrongly, part of the problem? I think Walsh knows this. Herb should get to another organization, continue to build up his cred, and his time will come. Here, he will be viewed as some sort of lame duck, especially with Zeke still lurking!
I hope we can get Tibs
I have to disagree with the profound Trane - Chris Paul is my guy to build around. Look at what he has done to Tyson Chandler. David West is kinda nice, but that nice? I think you can put anybody on the floor with him and he will recognize what it is they can do and must do best for the team to win, and make them do it, willingly. LeBron's team exists to make him better, Paul's team is made better by Paul.
In addition, as evidenced by his wicked, clinical, destruction of Jason Kidd, he takes out the opposition's leader. When you take out the point guard you fundamentally degrade the other teams ability to win. And unlike LeBron, he is a stone cold killer from birth. I dare say the closest thing in sheer merciless winning mentality we have had in the NBA since Jordan. LeBron thinks its his right to be there, thinks its part of the script, but he's still learning winning. Paul will take it from you, rip your heart out with no remorse. With pleasure. I almost feel sorry for Kidd. Almost.
KUNAT Boy--great point, I forgot that Harter, another defensive specialist, was also on Bird's staff. And you're right on: Bird just set the tone, demanded accountability from everybody, and let his assistants plan the games. Not a bad team, but without Carlisle and Harter, that Indy team wouldn't've been nearly as good. Tibs is clearly doing the same thing for Doc Rivers right now.